影片描述了1865年4月14日美国第16任总统亚伯拉罕·林肯遇刺前后所发生的国王影院故事，特别是他生前最后几天的经历及凶手策划刺杀行动的全过程。Billy Campbell在本片中扮演林肯，Jesse Johnson扮演John Wilkes Booth，Geraldine Hughes扮演Mary Todd Lincoln，Graham Beckel扮演Edwin Stanton、Shawn Pyfrom扮演列兵John W. Nichols。本片由汤姆·汉克斯解说，所有故事素材均来自同名畅销小说。

　　When a series of package bombs show up on the doorsteps of prominent politicians and businessmen in the summer of 1919, U.S. Bureau of Investigation Agent William Flynn (Strathairn) is assigned the task of finding those responsible. He becomes immersed in an investigation that uncovers an anarchist plot to destroy democracy. Inspired by true events of the 20s the film sets the stage for a timely thriller with resoundingly similar parallels to the contemporary war on terrorism and the role government plays to defeat it.